Willis man sentenced to life after bank robbery

A Willis man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for his role in a bank robbery late last year.

Montie Eugene Graham Jr., 36, was found guilty of aggravated robbery for robbing about $7,800 from a BBVA Compass Bank at 1000 N. Loop 336 on Dec. 20. Sixty-seven $2 bills were among his loot.

He will be eligible for parole in 30 years.

During the execution of an arrest warrant for Graham, police found GPS data from his cell phone that placed him in the area at the time of the robbery. He also paid his rent in cash shortly after the robbery, searched for news on his cell phone about local robberies and viewed an internet article entitled "No your $2 bills are not worth $20,000."

Graham had been previously charged with capital murder for allegedly killing a 72- year-old bar owner during a robbery. The charge was dismissed, authorities said, because a critical witness died of natural causes.

"The Citizens of Montgomery County can sleep safer knowing that Graham is in prison where he belongs. His days of robbing and terrorizing innocent people are over," Assistant District Attorney George Napier said in a prepared statement.